This study of national retail pharmacy data from 2013 to 2022, found an overall increase in buprenorphine dispensed to women of reproductive age and a marked increase in fills that were prescribed by nurse practitioners/physician assistants. These findings suggest that many women of reproductive age with opioid use disorder are receiving treatment with a prominent role being played by mid-level clinicians. However, we also found low rates of prescribing by OB/GYNs, despite the important role OB/Gyns play in delivering primary and maternity care to women. This may suggest a need for additional training of OB/GYNs in screening and referral for treatment of OUD, together with training of additional maternity care providers such as PAs and nurse midwives to recognize and respond to signs of OUD in women’s health care.
This brief was compiled and summarized by the HHS/ASPE Office of Behavioral Health, Disability, and Aging Policy (BHDAP). Additional research in this area is available at the ASPE Behavioral Health page, the ASPE Public Health page, and the ASPE Prescription Drugs & Other Medical Products page.
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Available Reports:
Related Resources:
- Characteristics of Pregnant and Postpartum Women and Their Children According to Type of Substance Use Treatment Issue Brief (2024)
- Variation Across States in Loss of Medicaid Coverage Among Pregnant Beneficiaries with Substance Use Disorders Issue Brief (2023)
- Emergency Department Interventions for Opioid Use Disorder: Overview of the Landscape, Key Components, and Analysis of Five Case Studies (2023)
- Early Impacts of the 2021 HHS Buprenorphine Practice Guidelines on Waivered Clinicians and People Receiving Buprenorphine for Opioid Use Disorder (2022)
- Opioid Use in Long-Term Care Settings: Final Report (2022)
- Trends in Hospital Readmission and Emergency Department Visit among Infants Born with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome Issue Brief (2021) [HTML version also available]
- Utilization of Mental Health Services among Children Diagnosed with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome at Birth Issue Brief (2021) [HTML version also available]
- Postpartum Opioid Prescription Fills, Opioid Use Disorder, and Utilization of Medication Assisted Treatment among Women with Medicaid and Private Health Insurance Coverage Issue Brief (2020) [HTML version also available]